The Return of the Genius Ranker’s Myth Warehouse - Chapter 42

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 42
Chapter 42
Inside the Worm Burrow within the Fallen Altar.
As I ventured deeper along those narrow, shadowed passages, the number of monsters steadily increased.
“Shriiiiek—”
A black mantis wielding sickle-like forearms slashed toward me.
Flutterrrr.
A black moth flapped its wings, scattering toxic powder with each beat.
Writhe.
There were also mysterious black caterpillars that didn’t merely spray acidic liquid—they vomited it when attacked or dying.
It was as if every conceivable species of insect in existence had gathered here, organized by type.
“If I had a weak stomach, I wouldn’t have even started this dungeon raid.”
The monsters were formidable.
Had I not advanced to Oil Master and gained free access to the items I’d accumulated during my time in First, clearing this dungeon at my level would have been impossible.
But the real problem went beyond their strength.
It was the sheer variety of insects.
For anyone with an aversion to bugs, the relentless emergence of these colossal creatures would have been overwhelming.
The one saving grace, however—
[ Luke has consumed a ‘Black Cockroach’. ]
[ Luke’s stats have increased by 1. ]
Crunch.
—was that Luke was promptly disposing of the insect corpses.
More than that, Luke was even swallowing all the insect fluids that splattered on my body, allowing me to maintain cleanliness despite facing so many monsters.
Back in First, the system lacked such realism, so I hadn’t given it much thought.
I never expected Luke’s predatory nature to prove useful in this way.
And I, too, had prepared thoroughly for a dungeon teeming with insectoid monsters.
[ Lesser Insect Repellent Potion ]
( Non-Tradeable )
Type: Potion
Grade: Rare
Requirement: Level 100+
Description: A potion created by alchemically extracting and maximizing the scent and properties of plants that insects naturally avoid, serving as an insect repellent.
First, the insect repellent—
Or rather, the insect repellent potion—I poured over my body.
The crisp mint aroma emanating from my skin reduced the surprise attacks from insects that had been lunging at me sporadically.
I wanted to pour it across the passages I’d already traversed to block rear approaches and ambushes, but I didn’t have dozens of these potions to spare.
Since insect repellent potions weren’t common, I had to settle for applying them to my body.
Next was—
[ Lesser Insecticide Potion ]
( Non-Tradeable )
Form: Potion
Grade: Rare
Restriction: Level 100 or above
Description: A low-grade insecticide potion crafted through alchemy by gathering components that trigger fatal chemical reactions in insect exoskeletons.
This was it.
Though the quantity wasn’t abundant, whenever I threw it at the more powerful insect-type monsters that occasionally appeared compared to ordinary ones.
Sizzzzle—!
“Shrieeek—.”
The exoskeleton touched by the insecticide potion melted away, exposing the tender flesh beneath.
Then I simply drew out my spear-like weapon and thrust it with all my strength.
However, as I mentioned, the quantity of these two potions wasn’t particularly abundant.
Though Luke’s subspace was nearly infinite, I didn’t carry hundreds of these niche potions around.
Instead, I preferred.
– Using the skill ‘Alchemy’.
I favored crafting necessary items on the spot depending on the situation.
This moment was no exception.
After defeating insects and having Luke consume them to gather materials, I began alchemy using those items.
Since I’d always preferred crafting necessary items on the fly even back in First, I had an abundance of basic reagents required for alchemy.
I couldn’t pull out a proper large kit here, so I reluctantly drew out a portable kit and alchemized the reagents and insect corpses.
[ Insect Lure Potion ]
( Non-tradeable )
Form: Potion
Grade: Rare
Restriction: Level 100 or above
Description: A potion created by condensing pheromones extracted from Black Worm tissues. When used, Black Worm pheromones spread outward, summoning ‘Black Worms’.
A convincing potion had been created.
Since it was crafted from materials of the Black Worm-type monsters currently appearing, it was a potion that exerted its effects exclusively on Black Worms.
Though the range of applicable monsters was narrow, precisely because of that, it would exert far more potent effects.
But then, why use a potion that lures insects rather than repels or attacks them?
The application was simple.
Whoosh—Crash!
I hurled the potion with all my strength toward the rear of the corridor.
Thanks to using my throwing skill, it flew quite far before shattering, releasing Black Worm pheromones from the broken potion.
And then.
Skitter-skitter-skitter—.
Black Worms converged toward that location.
The pheromones had summoned the insects.
I had two options here.
One was to sprint toward the end of the Dungeon while the insects gathered around the lure potion.
Or otherwise.
Splurt!
“Screeeee—”
I ambushed the insects that had gathered around the pheromone, their senses completely overwhelmed.
My current objective was to clear the Quest, so the core strategy was to defeat the Dungeon’s boss monster and complete the conquest quickly.
But wasn’t I currently receiving the first discovery experience bonus?
The level gap was perfectly calibrated too.
I couldn’t afford to miss such an opportunity.
This was a chance to level up while progressing through the main Quest, so I threw myself into defeating the insects with maximum enthusiasm.
[ Your level has increased. ]
Thanks to that, my level climbed steadily.
[ Achievement Unlocked: Pest Exterminator ]
Condition: Defeat 1,000 or more insect-type monsters consecutively
Reward: Attack power increases by 5% against insect-type monsters
I’d even managed to obtain an Achievement.
Since I’d need to hunt these black insects for a long time, not just now but well into the future, even a modest increase in attack power would prove invaluable.
That said.
‘The deeper I go, the stronger the monsters become.’
Since my level had been too low for the Altar, my leveling speed was quite rapid.
As my level increased, the gap between me and the monsters should narrow, making hunting progressively easier.
Yet the further I ventured inward, the more challenging it became to defeat them.
Creatures that once fell in a single strike when I struck their vital points or used fire and lightning magic now could withstand one hit.
Damage was penetrating the defensive power of my unique-grade armor set, which I’d upgraded to match my level.
Had I not used repellents and insecticide potions, the conquest might have proven far more difficult than anticipated.
Still, though.
“I can still handle them without issue for now.”
[ Your level has increased. ]
“Levels are rising nicely too.”
With the Second Crown approaching, there was no hunting ground better than this where I could progress through both the main Quest and level up simultaneously.
Honestly, if I simply explored the path and rushed straight to the Boss Room, I could probably clear it quickly.
But since I’m leveling up anyway.
“Why not take my time and explore thoroughly?”
I began to meticulously excavate the entire Worm Burrow of the Fallen Altar.
* * *
Musca, the Black Worm God’s final apostle.
Though an intruder had entered the Altar, he continued to chant his prayers toward the Black Worm God.
“Black Worm God… I am aware that your hundred thousand compound eyes gaze down upon us…”
He harbored no concern about the intruder.
No matter how strong the intruder might be, this was originally an Altar dedicated to the Black Worm God.
The black insects, imbued with even the faintest trace of the Black Worm God’s divinity, were formidable, and their numbers were infinite.
Particularly within the Altar, which had lost its original form over the ages and become nothing more than a Worm Burrow, no human could possibly endure.
I had been waiting, reciting prayers and anticipating the moment when humans would be offered as sacrifices.
“Why is it taking so long….”
Time passed, yet the insects failed to bring the sacrificial offering.
That wasn’t all.
Small insects came to report to Musca.
“You’re telling me we couldn’t even capture a single intruder, and we’ve allowed this sacrilege—letting them walk freely through the Black Worm God’s Altar?”
The intruder was wandering through the Altar as if it were their own home.
Moreover, the intruder neither avoided nor feared the insects.
Instead, they were trampling every insect in sight, weakening the Black Worm God’s forces.
At this, Musca’s expression darkened as he issued a command to the massive flea.
“Flea, go at once and capture the human who disturbs the Altar.”
Among the black insects, the flea was one that possessed the Black Worm God’s divinity in particularly abundance.
He believed this would be more than sufficient to capture the human.
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
“…Flea has been defeated?”
Flea did not return.
Enraged, Musca issued a new command.
“Grillus, Culex, Formica. Go at once and capture the intruder. They need not be alive—just bring me this sacrilegious invader.”
Among the black insects, these were the commanders.
They ranked directly beneath Musca, the apostle of the Black Worm God.
This time, he sent three of them at once, without hesitation.
And yet.
“…They failed? Grillus, Culex, and Formica?”
They had failed again.
He had sent three elite specimens at once, along with countless black insects.
Yet they couldn’t capture a single intruder.
That wasn’t all.
“Is that… true? The intruder is destroying the Black Worm God’s egg chambers?”
Tsk, tsk….
The intruder was destroying the Black Worm God’s egg chambers scattered throughout the Altar.
These chambers were not literal insect eggs.
They were real eggs of the Black Worm God, implanted in Musca’s body to incubate.
They were components installed to maintain the massive formation that was the Altar—similar to mana stones in terms of magical circles.
The intruder was smashing these components as they went.
“How dare you…!”
Musca’s fury erupted.
How could any intruder desecrate the great Black Worm God’s Altar?
He wanted nothing more than to rush out and crush the intruder’s skull, but he was the Black Worm God’s sole apostle and priest.
If he abandoned the Altar now, the ritual he had so carefully prepared would be cancelled.
Therefore, all Musca could do was.
“Now! Bring me the intruder at once! I command all the children of the Altar! Right now! Capture the intruder!”
All I could do was order the remaining insects to attack.
Because of that, my connection to the Black Worm God was steadily weakening.
* * *
As I wandered through various parts of the Dungeon, the monsters’ levels continued to rise.
In fact.
[ Black Flea, Flea ]
“A Named Monster?”
Named Monsters had begun to appear.
Named Monsters were creatures far stronger than ordinary monsters—just below the level of Boss Monsters.
As such, they were far more difficult to face.
[ Black Cricket, Grillus ]
[ Black Mosquito, Culex ]
[ Black Ant, Formica ]
But in exchange, they dropped far more experience and better items.
This place, where enormous swarms of insects attacked alongside Named Monsters.
Yes.
This place was.
“Wow, the experience here is insane.”
The perfect hunting ground for me.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————